Like I’ve said in the past, after every action-packed hour of “Pretty Little Liars” comes an episode with the sole purpose of setting up next week's action-packed hour.

And despite a solid run of nail-biters since season one returned on January 3, last night’s episode, true to form, was just plain slow. Until the end, but I’ll get back to that.

The episode opens with the girls re-watching the shocking yet inconclusive video of Alison and Ian in the woods. Ian just so happens to walk into the kitchen while the video is paused on a frame of his guilty mug, though he doesn’t seem to notice.

The girls plan to take the laptop to the police, but Spencer seems unsure. Maybe A planted the video because he or she knew we’d turn it in, she suggests.

However, when they realize that someone, presumably Ian or A (unless, of course, Ian is A), replaced Spencer’s laptop with an old yearbook, there’s no point in heading to the station. (Is it possible that Spencer planned the entire charade to avoid turning in the video? Do you trust her?)

Spencer tells the girls her laptop was probably swiped from her gym locker - a place only the school’s coaches have access to. Anyone else remember that Ian coaches at their school? Convenient, right?

Aria’s mom, who seems to care more about the family’s old babysitter Simone than Aria, is obsessed with the idea of setting Simone up with Fitz. It’s not her fault she doesn’t know Fitz is dating her underage daughter.

Emily, unable to get through to Maya, pays a sketchy new student named Caleb to reprogram her phone.

After being denied another part-time job, Hanna receives a text from A: “Wanna keep mommy out of prison? I’ve got a job for you.”

The job: To dance with Lucas at the dance-a-thon. While cruel, it was a surprisingly tame request considering what Hanna might do for a couple bucks these days.

“Job description: heartbreaker,” another text reads. “$200 for each dance with Lucas. –A”

A few dances later, with Sean and Hanna’s relationship hanging by a thread, another text is sent. “Want a raise?” it says. “$500 for every dance with Lucas. –A”

After retrieving the keys to the desk drawer where Ian stashed his briefcase, Spencer heads in to see if it contains her missing laptop. As she fiddles with the many keys on Ian’s key ring, Caleb walks by and offers her a hand. She turns him down, asking how much money it will take to keep him quiet. Though, I got the impression Mr. Sketch isn't interested in cash.

After an upsetting call with Maya, Emily decides to drown her sorrows by knocking back a few swigs from Hanna’s flask. When Hanna walks over to Emily outside the school, Emily gives her grief for torturing Lucas like Alison did to her. “Alison would have been really proud of you,” she says sarcastically.

A confirms Emily’s sentiment with yet another text: “You have Lucas’ heart, now rip it out. Last dance $1,000. –A”

Hanna complied, losing Sean and her dignity. Maybe Lucas is A and he set the entire jig up knowing Sean would break up with Hanna. What do you think?

The good news is that A came through on the offer. Hanna finds a wad of cash in her coat pocket upon exiting the dance.

But not before a belligerent Emily runs her mouth to Ian. “I know what you did,” she says. “We all know, and you’re not going to get away with it.”

Spencer tells Ian that Emily was referring to their illicit kiss a while back and assures him that no one else will find out about it.

The girls head back to Spencer’s house, where they find her laptop sitting on the coffee table, sans video. There is, however, a picture of Alison on the night she disappeared with the caption: “Watch your backs, I didn’t. –A”

Hanna notices a shadow in the background and asks Spencer if she knows who it is. Based on her reaction, I’d say little miss perfect knows something we don’t.

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KAYLEY! i have noticd the same thing! you can see him in other parts of the episode too!i was watching this episode of pretty little liars again and i remembered that creepy part at the end when ella gave "A" his things she said he was number 32 so i kept my eyes peeled and i saw a creepy nerdy guy dancing with the number 32 on his back, twice. could it be?

Does anyone notice that in this picture the man in the back has the number 32 posted to his coat? Hmm.. the same coat that someone asks for from Ella at the end of the dance but we do not see their face...I think it is Ian!

Spencer is a bit under handed. How is it her lips always seem to land on a guy her sister's dating? Not trusting the sister either. She married Ian but she knows something. Poor Hanna, I feel for her the most. The parents seem to have just as many issues as the PLL. Ezra is weak and Aria needs to move on.

Spencer is crooked! Emily just looks like she is going to cry all the time. (Is she trying to get herself into rehab with her gf?) Aria is an idiot about trying to "hide" her relationship with Ezra. Hanna is in a bad situation. Totally addicted to this show.

I'm pretty sure in the first couple episodes that Spencer flashesback to the night of the barn and SHE followed her out......i can't remember anything more than that but I do remember it was the night of the barn and she only followed for awhile.

I love me some Aria and Ezra the promo of the two is what peeked my interest in the first place and i say it without apology. This show is the best i mean i wait anxiously just to see the preview of the next episode Pretty little liars is the BEST